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GUIDE  TO  THE  LANDS 


OF  THE 


FIRST  DIVISION 


OF  THE 

SAINT  PAUL  AND  PACIFIC 

RAILROAD  COMPANY. 


1,500,000  ACRES,  IN  TRACTS  TO  SUIT  PURCHASERS,  AT 
LOW  PRICES  FOR  CASH,  OR  ON  LONG  CREDIT. 


Saint  Paul,  Minnesota, 

GENERAL  OFFICES  NEAR  THE  DEPOT,  ON  THE  LEVEE. 

1874 


This  Pamphlet  is  sent  to  parties  applying  to  this  Company 
for  infprmation  touching  the  Lands  it  offers  for  sale. 

For  more  specific  and  detailed  information,  apply  personally 
or  by  letter  to  ^ 

The  Land  Commissioner  of 

The  First  Division  of  the  St.  Paul  & Pacific  Railroad  Co. 

St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 


General  Office  on  the  Levee,  near  Railroad  Depot. 

. HERMANN  TROTT, 
Land  Commissioner. 


RAMALEY  & CUNNINGHAM, 
Printers  and  Stationers, 

St.  Paul,  Minn. 


The  North  Star  State. 


'=r. 


i 

) 

O 


The  State  of  Minnesota  extends  from  43 of  north  latitude, 
and  from  89°  29'  to  97^  5'  of  west  longitude.  Its  boundaries 
are:  On  the  north,  the  British  Possessions;  on  the  south,  the 
State  of  Iowa ; on  the  east,  Lake  Superior  and  the  State  of 
Wisconsin  ; on  the  west,  the  Territory  of  Dakota.  Its  area  is 
84,000  square  miles,  or  about  54,000,000  acres,  a large  per  cent- 
age  of  which  is  suitable  for  cultivation,  and  the  remainder — not 
arable — rich  in  various  species  of  timber  and  abounding  in  min- 
erals. Its  rapid  growtli  in  population  and  wealth  has  never 
been  equaled  on  the  American  continent,  and  may  be  attributed 
to  its  healthy  climate,  fertile  soil,  pi^re  water,  cheap  lands,  con- 
venient markets,  and  the  magnificient  provision  made  for  com- 
mon schools. 

The  general  surface  of  tlie  country  is  undulatin^j:,  similar  to 
the  rolling  prairitis  of  the  adjoining  States  of  Iowa  and  Wiscon- 
sin ; with  greater  diversity,  beauty  and  picturesqueness  impart- 
ed to  the  landscape  by  clear  lakes,  numerous  waterfalls,  high 
bluffs  and  wooded  ravines. 

The  physical  conformations  of  the  State  divide  it  into  three 
principal  districts. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  an  exception  to  its  general 


4 


evenness  of  surface  occurs,  what  may  be  termed  the  Highlands 
OP  Minnesota.  This  district  is  comparatively  of  small  extent — 
16,000  square  miles — and  covered  with  a dense  growth  of  pine, 
fir,  spruce,  &c.;  it  has  an  elevation  of  about  450  feet  above  the 
general  level  of  the  country,  and  is  covered  with  hills  of  diluvial 
sand  and  drift  from  85  to  100  feet  in  height,  among  which  the 
three  great  rivers  of  the  American  continent — the  Mississippi,  ^ 
St.  Lawrence,  and  Red  River — take  their  rise.  The  tempera- 
ture of  this  district  is  from  5 to  8 degrees  lower  than  that  of  the 
rest  of  the  State ; although  possessing  some  good  land,  its  prin- 
cipal value  consists  in  its  immense  forests  and  its  rich  mineral 
deposits  of  copper,  iron  and  the  precious  metals. 

The  Valley  of  the  Red  River  forms  another  district  larger 
than  the  Highlands,  containing  18,000  square  miles,  with  a 
deep,  black  soil,  composed  of  alluvial  mould,  and  rich  in  organic 
deposits.  This  district  produces  the  heaviest  crops  of  grain, 
especially  wheat,  of  any  section  in  the  United  States.  It  is 
mostly  prairie,  with  some  timber  along  the  Red  River  and  its 
tributaries,  with  but  few  rivers  or  lakes,  and  has  a nearly  level 
or  gently  undulating  surface. 

The  Mississippi  Valley  comprises  the  third  district ; it  con- 
tains about  50,000  square  miles,  or  about  three-fifths  of  the 
whole  State.  Its  general  characteristics  are  those  of  a rolling 
prairie  and  timber  region,  resting  on  secondary  rocks;  it  is  un- 
usually well  drained,  both  by  the  nature  of  the  soil,  which  is  a 
warm,  dark,  calcareous  and  sandy  loam,  and  the  innumerable 
lakes  and  streams  which  cover  its  surface  with  a perfect  net- 
work, It  is  dotted  by  nunferous  and  extensive  groves  and  belts 
of  timber.  These  main  districts  are  also  subdivided  into  smaller 
ones,  by  the  valleys  of  the  numerous  streams  which  intersect 
them.  The  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  Valley  of  the  Red 
River  of  the  North,  constitute  the  garden  spot  of  the  West,  and 
they  embrace  within  their  limits  one  of  the  finest  agricultural 
districts  in  the  world. 

The  Mississippi  River,  2,400  miles  long,  which  drains  a larger 
region  of  country  than  any  stream  on  the  globe,  with  the  ex- 


5 


ception  of  the  Amazon,  rises  in  Lake  Itasca,  in  the  northern 
part  of  Minnesota,  and  flows  southeasterly  through  the  State 
T9T  miles,  134  of  which  forms  its  eastern  boundary.  It  is  navi- 
gable for  large  boats  to  St.  Paul.  The  season  of  navigation  has 
opened  as  early  as  the  25th  of  March,  but  usually  opens  from 
the  first  to  the  middle  of  April,  and  closes  between  the  middle 
of  November  and  the  first  of  December. 

The  Red  River  Slope,  whose  southern  point  extends  to  Lac 
Traverse,  separated  from  Big  Stone  Lake  by  a distance  of  only 
three  miles,  extends  northward,  maintaining  a uniform  altitude 
of  nearly  1,000  feet.  The  Red  River  has  its  source  in  the  heights 
of  land  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  where  it  flows 
southwesterly,  then  making  a sudden  detour  at  Breckenridge, 
where  its  waters  become  navigable,  it  runs  nearly  due  north, 
washing  the  western  boundary  of  Minnesota  for  380  miles. 

The  American  Valley  of  the  Red  River  is  about  250  miles 
from  north  to  south,  and  contains  an  area  of  18,000  square 
miles.  Pope,  in  his  official  report  to  Congress,  says:  ‘‘In  its 
whole  extent,  it  presents  an  unbroken  level  of  rich  prairie,  in- 
tersected at  right  angles  by  all  the  heavily  timbered  tributaries 
of  the  Red  River,  from  the  east  and  west,  the  river  itself  run- 
ning nearly  north  through  its  center,  and  heavily  timbered  on 
both  sides  with  elm,  oak,  maple,  ash,  &c.  This  valley,  from  its 
vast  extent,  perfect  uniformity  ot  surface,  richness  of  soil,  and 
abundant  supply  of  wood  and  water,  is  among  the  finest  wheat 
growing  countries  in  the  world.” 


Lakes. 

The  whole  surface  of  the  State,  except  the  Red  River  Valley, 
is  literally  begemmed  with  innumerable  lakes,  estimated  by 
Schoolcral't  at  10,000.  They  are  of  all  sizes,  from  500  yards  in 
diameter  to  10  miles.  Their  picturesque  lieauty  and  loveliness, 
with  their  pebbly  bottoms,  transparent  waters,  wooded  shores 
and  sylvan  associations,  must  be  seen  to  be  fully  appreciated. 
They  all  abound  in  fish — black  and  rock  bass,  pickerel,  pike, 
perch,  cat,  sunfish,  Ac.,  of  superior  quality  and  flavor;  and  in 
the  spring  and  fall  they  are  the  haunts  of  innumerable  ducks. 


6 


geese,  and  other  wild  fowl.  In  some  places  they  are  solitary,  at 
others  found  in  groups  or  chains.  Many  are  without  outlets ; 
others  give  rise  to  meandering  and  meadow-bordered  brooks. 

Lieutenant  Maury  says:  ‘‘  We  see,  with  these  beautiful  sheets 
of  water,  nature  has  done  for  the  Upper  Mississippi  what  Ellet 
proposed  should  be  done  by  the  siovernment  for  Ohio,  and  what 
Napoleon  III.  is  doing  for  France.  Every  one  of  these  thousand 
lakes  is  a reservoir  lor  the  rains  in  the  wet  season,  which  it 
reserves  to  fill  up  the  river  in  the  dry — at  least  this  is  one  of 
their  offices,  for  they  have  many.”  *'  Minnesota  is  far  from  the 
sea,  but  it  is  a better  watered  country  than  either  Kansas  or 
Nebraska.  Indeed,  it  may  be  considered  the  best  watered  State 
in  the  Union;  and  it  doubtless  owes  its  abundance  of  summer 
rains  measurably  to  the  lake  system.” 


Forests. 

Among  tliose  unacquainted  with  the  State,  Minnesota  is  apt 
to  be  regarded  as  a prairie  country  destitute  of  timber.  On 
the  contrary,  there  is  no  Western  State  better  supplied  with 
forests. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  State  is  an  immense  forest  region, 
estimated  to  cover  upwards  of  21,000  square  miles,  constituting 
one  of  the  great  sources  of  wealth  and  industry  of  the  State. 
The  prevailing  Avood  of  this  region  is  pine,  with  a considerable 
proportion  of  ash,  birch,  maple,  elm,  poplar,  &c.  West  of  the 
Mississippi,  lying  between  it  and  the  Minnesota,  js  the  Big 
Woods,  about  100  miles  in  length  and  40  miles  wide.  The  dis- 
trict is  full  of  lakes,  and  broken  by  small  openings.  The  pre- 
vailing woods  are  oak,  maple,  elm,  ash,  bassAvood,  butternut, 
black  Avalnut  and  hickory.  Besides  these  tAvo  large  forests, 
nearly  all  the  streams  are  fringed  Avith  Avoodland,  and  dense 
forests  of  considerable  extent  cover  the  valleys.  The  extensi\^e 
bottoms  of  the  Mississippi,  Minnesota,  and  Red  River  are  cov- 
ered Avith  a heaA^y  growth  of  Avhite  and  black  Avalnut,  maple, 
boxAvood,  hickory,  linden  and  cottonwood. 


7 


Climate. 

The  assertion  that  the  climate  of  Minnesota  is  one  of  the 
healthiest  in  the  world,  may  be  broadly  and  confidently  made. 
It  is  sustained  by  the  almost  unanimous  testimony  of  the  thou- 
sands of  invalids  who  have  sought  its  pure  and  bracing  air,  and 
recovered  from  consumption  and  other  diseases,  after  they  had 
been  given  up  as  hopeless  by  their  home  physicians ; and  it  is 
sustained  also  by  the  published  tables  of  mortality  in  the  differ- 
ent States. 

These  facts,  establishing  as  they  do  the  remarkable  salubrity 
of  the  climate,  are  borne  out  by  statistics.  The  figures  are  ac- 
cessible to  all  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  examine  the  official 
reports. 

The  vast  immigration  from  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  other  West- 
ern States,  to  Minnesota,  affords  collateral  evidence  of  the 
superior  climate  of  this  State. 

The  census  returns  show  that  Illinois  has  sent  over  7000  of 
her  native  born  population  to  Minnesota.  This  is  a larger 
quota,  in  proportion  to  her  population,  than  any  other  Western 
State.  A large  majority  of  these  are  set  down  on  the  census 
rolls  as  children  whose  parents  were  born  in  some  Eastern  State 
or  foreign  country.  If  the  adult  members  of  the  family  are 
added  to  the  computation,  we  shall  find  the  number  of  emi- 
grants from  Illinois  to  Minnesota  at  not  less  than  ten  thousand. 
Illinois  has  a rich  soil,  warm  climate,  and  abounds  in  the  luxu- 
ries of  life.  What  cause  but  dissatisfaction  with  a climate  that 
involves  them  with  perpetual  warfare  with  disease,  could  induce 
such  multitudes  to  forego  comforts  already  enjoyed,  and  brave 
again  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life  ? Let  the  multitudes  of  ro- 
bust, healthy  cliildren  that  crowd  our  schools,  sport  in  our 
streets,  and  roam  over  the  prairies,  testify  to  the  parental  pru- 
dence that  instigated  this  flight  to  a healthier  country. 


Education  and  Schools. 

Minnesota  took  the  subject  of  education  in  hand  at  an  early 
stage  of  her  settlement,  and  she  may  now  justly  boast  of  pos- 


8 


sessing  the  most  munificent  endowment  for  educational  purposes 
of  any  State  in  the  Union. 

Governor  Austin,  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  January 
4th,  1872,  upon  this  subject,  says: 

‘‘Our  Common  Schools  are  of  more  general  interest,  and  their 
continued  prosperity  a source  of  more  public  gratification,  than 
springs  from  any  other- subject  under  the  control  of  the  State. 

“The  permanent  school  fund  is  derived  from  the  proceeds  of 
the  sale  of  the  school  lands  of  the  State — a gift  from  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  comprising  sections  sixteen  and  thirty-six  in 
every  township,  or  one  eighteenth  of  the  public  domain — and 
from  the  sale  of  permits  to  cut  pine  timber  on  these  lands.  The 
fund  now^  amounts  to  $2,544,076.12,  which  is,  in  amount,  the 
filth  permanent  school  fund  in  the  United  States,  and  the  larg- 
est derived  exclusively  from  the  Government  land  grants  for 
that  purpose. 

“With  good  management  our  school  fund,  when  all  the  lands 
shall  have  been  converted  into  money,  cannot  be  less  than 
$16,000,000. 

“ In  addition  to  the  interest  on  the  permanent  school  fund, 
there  is  levied  each  year,  pursuant  to  general  laws,  a two  mill 
tax.  The  proceeds  of  this  tax,  added  to  the  interest  on  the 
school  f'uid,  amounted  to  $346,317.83  for  the  last  fiscal  year, 
which  has  been  apportioned  and  distributed  among  the  school 
districts.  To  the  amount  so  leceived,  each  district  makes  such 
further  addition  as  its  assessors  see  fit  to  assess  for  school  pur- 
poses.” 

In  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  January  9th,  1874,  the 
Governor  says  : “ The  number  of  School  Districts  in  the  State 
in  the  year  1873,  is  3137,  an  increase  over  the  previous  year  of 
204.  There  are  2568  school-houses,  valued  at  $2,089,201.  The 
number  of  persons  attending  (public)  schools  was  124,583; 
3350  attended  private  schools.  There  were  5206  teachers  em- 
ployed in  the  public  schools  during  the  year,  of  w’hom  3567 
-were  females.  The  amount  paid  teachers’  wages  was  $568,937, 
all  increase  over  1872  of  $20,989  ; $337,836  was  received  from 
the  public  school  fund,  and  $173,060  apportioned  from  the  per-’ 
maneiit  school  i'and.  The  amount  paid  from  taxes  voted  by 


9 


districts,  $61 1,490,  and  the  whole  amount  expended  for  public 
schools  during  the  year  was  $951,750.” 

A special  land  grant  of  46,0S0  acres  was  made  for  the  endow- 
ment of  a State  University.  It  has  been  located  at  St.  Anthony, 
(on  the  line  of  this  road,)  and  a fine  stone  edifice  erected  for 
this  purpose.  The  school  is  in  operation,  affording  facilities  for 
every  youth  in  the  State  to  obtain  a free  collegiate  education. 
No  State  in  the  Union  has  ever  equalled  this,  if  we  consider  the 
age,  population  and  wealth  ot  Minnesota. 

During  the  year  1870  the  University  of  Minnesota  was  fully 
organized  by  the  election  of  a President  and  a full  corps  of 
Professors,  and  lecture  courses  in  the  various  scientific  branches 
regularly  given,  with  an  average  attendance,  so  far,  of  about 
300  scholars. 

There  are  in  the  State  three  Normal  Schools,  (all  in  success- 
ful operation,)  established  for  the  education  of  teachers,  one  of 
which  is  located  at  St.  Cloud,  on  the  branch  line  of  this  road.  The 
attendance  at  these  schools  during  the  year  1873  was  962. 
Nearly  all  of  those  educated  at  these  schools  are  now  engaged 
in  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  the  State.  There  is  also  a 
large  Catholic  Institute  west  of  St.  Cloud,  called  St.  John’s  Col- 
lege. 


Principal  Productions. 

'The  agricultural  facilities  of  Minnesota  are  unsurpassed  by 
the  finest  agricultural  districts  of  the  old  States. 

^heat  is  the  chief  staple.  The  crop  is  not  only  more  certain 
than  in  other  wheat  growing  States,  but  the  yield  is  greater 
than  in  the  best  of  them.  The  average  wheat  yield  of  Minne- 
sota has  been  put  down  at  22  bushels  to  the  acre:  in  some 
counties  the  yield  was  25  to  30.  The  crop  the  j)astyear  is  esti- 
mated at  22,000,000  bushels.  Minnesota  is  the  banner  wheat 
State  of  the  Union. 

Oats,  Rye,  Barley,  Bucli'wheat , all  attest  the  superiority  of 
the  climate  and  soil  of  ^Minnesota,  and  reward  the  husbandman 
abundant  harvests.  There  were  12,453,210  bushels  of  oats 
raised  last  year. 


10 


Corn  produces  well  in  Minnesota,  and  the  yield  compares 
favorably  with  that  of  the  best  corn  growing  States.  The  yield 
for  1872  was  officially  reported  as  7,142,145  bushels. 

Potatoes. — “The  superior  flavor  and  the  rich  farinaceous 
quality  of  the  potatoes  of  Minnesota,  afford  an  apt  illustration 
of  the  principle  maintained  by  Dr.  Forry,  that  the  cultivated 
plants  come  to  perfection  only  near  the  northern  limits  of  their 
growth.  In  the  South,  the  potato,  in  common  with  other 
tuberous  and  bulbous  plants,  with  beets,  turnips  and  other 
garden  roots,  ig  scarcely  fit  for  human  food.  ‘A  forcing  sun,^ 
says  Dr.  Forry,  ^ brings  the  potato  to  fructification  before  the 
roots  have  had  time  to  attain  their  proper  size,  or  ripen  into 
the  qualities  proper  for  nourishment.’  Minnesota  at  the  West, 
reproduces  the  best  northern  samples  of  this  vegetable  in  char- 
acteristic perfection.  From  their  farina  and  flavor,  the  potatoes 
of  Minnesota  are  already  held  in  considerable  esteem  as  a table 
delicacy  in  the  States  below  us,  and  a market  is  rapidly  growing 
up  for  them  throughout  the  States  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  as 
is  indicated  by  increasing  exports.”  The  potato  crop  of  Minne- 
sota is  remarkably  exempt  from  the  rot  which  often  affects  that 
of  States  south  of  us.  In  the  fall  of  1864,  a large  proportion 
of  the  potatoes  in  the  St.  Louis  and  Eastern  markets  were 
rotten-hearted,  while  Minnesota  potatoes  were  perfectly  sound. 
The  average  yield  of  this  crop  in  186.5,  according  to  the 
assessors’  returns,  was  164  bushels.  These  figures  must  not 
be  understood  as  giving  a fair  showing  of  the  actual  capacity 
of  the  soil,  when  it  is  known  that  the  crops  giving  these 
results  were  simply  plowed  in  and  overrun  with  grass,  receiv- 
ing no  other  attention  than  one  or  two  plowings.  When  due 
attention  is  paid  to  cultivation,  the  yield  will  be  from  300  to  400 
bushels  per  acre.  The  total  crop  of  1868  was  2,300,000  bushels, 
and  of  1873  was  3,072,349  bushels. 

Maple  Sugar. — The  sugar  maple  is  found  plentifully  in  the 
timbered  part  of  the  State.  A product  of  195,587  pounds  of 
maple  sugar,  and  17,394  gallons  of  syrup  was  reported  for  the 
year  1872. 

Tobacco. — In  1869,  11,293  pounds  of  tobacco,  averaging 


11 


1,140  pounds  per  acre,  were  raised  in  the  State,  and  in  1872 
42,788  pounds  were  raised. 

Hay. — Timothy  and  clover  flourish  in  Minnesota  ; in  tact, 
white  clover,  red  top,  and  blue  grass  seem  indigenous  to  the 
soil,  and  speedily  cover  any  land  pastured  much.  The  tame 
grasses  are  but  little  cultivated  on  this  account;  the  luxuriant 
growth  of  the  native  grasses  wLich  cover  the  immense  surface 
of  natural  meadow  land  formed  by  the  alluvial  bottoms  of  the 
intricate  network  of  streams  which  everywhere  intersect  the 
country,”  and  which  are  as  rich  and  nutritious  in  this  latitude 
as  the  best  exotic  varieties,”  render  cultivation  unnecessary. 
The  yield  of  these  grasses  for  1872  was  743,000  tons. 

The  lint  plants,  JPlax.,  Hemp.^  (&g.,  as  they  come  to  perfection 
only  in  a cool  climate,  do  extremely  well  in  Minnesota.  Their 
bark  in  southern  climates  is  harsh  and  brittle,  because  the  plant 
is  forced  into  maturity  so  rapidly  that  the  lint  does  not  acquire 
either  consistency  or  tenacity.  Minnesota  is  equal  for  flax  and 
hemp  growth  to  Northern  Europe.  The  production  of  flax  has 
greatly  increased  during  the  last  few  years,  and  has  proved  to 
be  a profitable  crop.  In  the  year  1872  there  was  raised  2,903,- 
079  pounds  of  fibre,  and  71.752  bushels  of  seed. 

Onions,  Tarnips,  Parsnips,  Carrots,  Beets,  and  nearly  all 
bulbous  plants  do  equally  as  well  as  the  potato. 

Turnips,  Putahagas  and  Beets  often  attain  a great  size,  and 
yield  remarkably  well. 

The  Salad  Plants. — Cabbages,  lettuce,  endives,  celery? 
spinach — plants  whose  leaves  are  only  eaten — are  not  only  more- 
tender  here  than  further  South,  where  the  long  slow  growth 
renders  their  leaves  thin  and  tough,  but  are  more  nutritious, 
because  their  growth  is  rapid,  and  their  juice  well  digested  in 
their  leaves,  instead  of  being  evaporated  by  slow  growth  and* 
distributicm. 

Melons,  although  they  come  in  rather  late,  instead  of  throw-, 
ing  too  much  of  their  growth  into  the  vine,  as  they  do  South, 
attain  a large  size  and  a rich  saccharine  and  aromatic  flavor. 


12 


This  is  especially  true  of  the  cantelope  melon,  which  in  warmer 
climates  has  its  sides  baked,  or  rots  before  it  is  fully  matured. 

Pumpkins^  Squashy  on  the  same  principle,  fully  mature, 
and  grow  very  fine  and  large.  The  Hubbard  variety  requires 
early  planting,  say  first  of  May. 

Beans,  Peas,  i&o.,  ot  every  variety,  are  fine  and  prolific. 
Rhubarb,  or  pie-plant,  flourishes  without  cultivation. 

The  Hop  Culture,  pays  well  in  this  State.  In  the  year  1872 
93  acres  were  planted,  producing  114,429  pounds. 

Perhaps  in  no  State  in  the  Union  does  the  soil  so  surely  and 
amply  reward  labor,  or  yield  larger  products  for  the  amount  of 
labor  bestowed  on  it.  It  is  easily  cleared  of  weeds,  and  once 
clean,  its  warm,  forcing  nature  enables  the  crops  to  speedily 
outstrip  all  noxious  growths.  Two  good,  thorough  workings 
usually  insure  a growth  of  almost  any  cultivated  crop. 


Frmts. 

Applies,  e&G. — An  impression  seems  to  prevail  abroad  that  we 
cannot  raise  fruit  in  Minnesota — ‘‘an  extraordinary  inference,’^ 
sa3^s  Wheelock,  “when  we  consider  that  many  forms  of  wild 
fruit  are  indigenous  to  the  country.”  Our  climate  is  evidently 
not  so  well  adapted  to  fruit-raising  as  that  of  some  other  States 
south  of  us.  Still  sufficient  of  most  kinds  may  be  raised  to  sup- 
ply the  home  demand.  It  has  been  demonstrated  that  many 
varieties  of  apples  do  well  here,  and  there  are  now  several  bear- 
ing orchards  in  the  vicinity  of  Minneapolis,  Lake  Minnetonka, 
Winona,  St.  Paul,  Red  Wing,  Owatonna,  Rochester,  Mankato, 
and  other  portions  of  the  State.  The  specimens  of  Minnesota 
apples  at  the  State  Fair  of  1873,^  were  equal  in  size  and  flavor 
to  the  same  varieties  elsewhere  produced.  It  is  not  the  severi- 
ty of  the  winter  that  kills  the  tree,  but  the  alternate  thawing 
and  freezing  of  the  south  side  of  the  tree  in  the  spring,  which 
is  avoided  by  mulching,  and  protecting  the  stem  of  the  tree 
when  young,'  by  a wrapping  of  straw.  The  State  being  new, 
time  sufficient  for  planting  and  acclimating  orchards  has  not 


13 


elapsed  ; but  there  is  do  loDi^er  any  doubt  of  our  ability  to  raise 
fine  apple  orchards.  Dwarf  cherry  and  peach  trees,  which  are 
easily  protected  in  winter,  flo  well,  but  the  larger  vyrieties  are 
too  tender.  However,  cherries  may  yet  succeed,  as  the  wild 
variety  is  a native  of  the  soil.  Apples  grow  well  in  Wisconsin, 
right  alongside  of  us;  in  Canada  and  New  England,  north  of 
us.  The. inference  is  clear  that  by  procuring  our  trees  north  of 
iis,  (not  south,  as  has  heretofore  been  the  practice,)  or  planting 
the  seeds  and  thus  acclimating  them,  or  by  grafting  on  to  the 
stock  of  the  Siberian  Crab,  which  is  remarkably  healthy  and 
hardy,  and  flourishes  here  through  the  coldest  winters  without 
protection,  we  may  raise  all  the  apples  we  wish.  There  are 
several  flourishing  nurseries  near  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis,  Lake 
Minnetonka,  Delano,  and  other  portions  of  the  State. 

Crab  Apples. — The  wild  crab  apple  tree  is  indigenous  to 
the  soil,  improves  much  by  cultivation,  aud  furnishes  an  ex- 
cellent stock  for  grafting,  but  inferior  to  the  Siberian  Grab ^ 
which  is  equally  hardy,  and  furnishes  an  excellent  apple  for  pre- 
serving. Some  varieties  approach  a hen’s  egg  in  size,  and  are 
quite  palatable.  There  are  many  varieties  of  this  fruit  now 
raised  here  in  the  highest  state  ot  perfection. 

Strawberries. — Every  variety  of  this  excellent  fruit  does  well 
here,  attaining  a size  and  flavor  unsurpassed.  Wild  ones  fill  the 
woods  and  prairies  every  year. 

Grapes. — The  different  varieties  succeed  well  here,  and  sev- 
eral varieties  of  the  wild  grape  vine  grow  luxuriantly  all  over 
the  State.  The  cultivated  varieties,  while  young,  require  to  be 
laid  down  in  the  fall,  and  protected  by  a light  covering.  The 
nature  of  our  climate  and  soil  would  seem  to  designate  Minne- 
sota as  a great  grape-growing  State.  The  juices  of  the  grape, 
says  Dr.  Forry,  are  best  matured  for  wine  near  the  northern 
limit  of  their  growth.  On  the  Rhine,  in  Hungary,  the  sides  of 
the  Alps,  and  other  elevated  and  northern  situations,  the  vine  is 
strongest,  richest,  and  most  esteemed.  The  grapes  of  France 
are  more  delicious  for  the  table  than  those  of  Spain  or  Madeira, 
south  of  it.  The  excess  of  heat  and  moisture  in  the  States  south 
and  east  of  us,  blights  the  grape  to  a great  extent.  The  vine. 


14 


however,  whether  wild  or  cultivated,  grows  there  luxuriantly. 
The  vinous  fermentation,  as  well  as  the  pressing  and  distillation 
of  the  juice,  can  also  be  best  conducted  in  a climate  compara- 
tively cool. 

Gooseberries^  Currants,  and  Raspberries  are  cultivated  ex- 
tensively throughout  the  State,  unsurpassed  in  flavor,  size  and 
productiveness.  They  also  grow  wild,  in  common  with  Blue- 
berries,  Whortleberries,  and  both  marsh  and  upright  Cranber- 
ries. 

^Mld  Plums,  of  a great  many  different  varieties,  some  of  them 
very  large  and  fine,  approximating  the  peach  for  domestic  pur- 
poses, abound  in  the  neighborhood  of  streams,  lakes,  and  ihoist 
localities.  They  improve  so  much  by  being  transplanted  and 
cultivated,  as  to  equal  any  of  the  tame  varieties. 

^^ild  Cherries  are  also  plenty. 

From  this  list  it  is  apparent  that  Minnesotians  are  not  likely 
to  suffer  lor  the  want  of  fruit.  And  it  may  be  remarked  of  all 
fruits  generally  grown  in  Minnesota,  that,  owing  to  the  principle 
announced  by  Dr.  Forry,  they  attain  a perfection  found  only  at 
the  northernmost  limit  of  their  growth.  The  pulp  is  delicate, 
saccharine,  and  of  a rich  flavor,  while  they  are  free  from  the  lar- 
vae, gum,  knots  and  acerbity  of  fruit  grown  further  south.  The 
dryness  of  the  atmosphere,  as  well  as  the  inherent  perfection  of 
the  fruit,  enables  us  to  preserve  it  for  a much  longer  time  than 
can  be  done  in  warmer  localities.  Apples  keep  much  better 
than  in  St.  Louis  or  Cincinnati. 


Winter  Indnstry. 

Among  the  unfounded  prejudices  against  Minnesota,  we  find 
it  frequently  urged  that  the  winter  season  here  does  not  afford 
to  the  settler  any  remunerative  occupation,  and  that  it  is  a time 
of  forced  and  expensive  idleness.  This  is  not  so  to  the  industri- 
ous settler.  Our  winters  offer  a variety  of  occupations,  of  which 
we  will  name  a few  as  examples. 

limber  Trade.  The  State  of  Minnesota,  but  more  especially 


15 


the  northern  half,  abounds  in  varieties  of  timber,  perhaps  to  as 
great  an  extent  as  any  of  the  others.  Winter  is  the  season 
when  this  trade  is  principally  carried  on.  The  trees  are  then 
felled,  and  transported  on  sleds  to  the  nearest  stream,  there  to 
await  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice  in  the  spring.  The  cost  of 
logging  is  comparatively  small,  and  the  labor  easy. 

Every  winter  thousands  of  young  men  find  employment  in 
these  vast  forests,  and  farmers  and  others,  from  far  and  near, 
hire  out  their  sleds,  oxen  and  horses  to  good  advantage. 

The  statistics  of  the  State  for  1872  show  that  in  three  of  the 
principal  timber  district,  359,942,490  cubic  feet  of  timber  were 
obtained. 

The  settlers  in  the  “ Big  Woods  ” can  make  profitable  use  of 
their  time  and  timber  while  clearing  their  land  and  fitting  it  for 
farming. 

All  kinds  of  timber  that  grow  in  the  ‘‘Big  Woods”  are  in 
good  demand  at  remunerative  prices. 

Elm  is  used  for  basket  stuff,  iencing,  and  building  material  ; 
oak,  for  barrel  staves,  railroad  ties,  furniture  and  finishing  lum- 
ber; basswood,  for  barrel  headings,  fencing,  &c.;  butternut,  for 
furniture  and  finishing  lumber ; and  maple,  besides  its  value  for 
sugar,  furnishes  good  material  for  furniture  and  finishing.  The 
small  growth  of  elm  and  hickery  is  also  used  to  a great  extent 
for  barrel  hoops. 

Fuel.  Wood  is  the  principal  fuel|;  cities  and  towns,  as  well 
as  the  farmer  on  the  prairie,  have  to  be  supplied  with  this  indis- 
pensable article.  The  consumption  of  firewood  during  the 
winter  season  amounts  to  over  $1,000,000.  Native  peat  is  also 
found  in  many  parts  of  the  State. 

Ice  Trade.  This  is  also  a remunerative  business.  Large 
blocks  of  ice  are  sawed  out  from  the  lakes  and  rivers,  and 
stored  away  until  the  opening  of  navigation,  then  to  be  shipped 
to  the  South  and  East  of  our  own  country,  and  also  to  many  of 
the  tropical  countries. 

Game  and  Fur  Trade.  This  State  is  lull  of  all  kinds  of 
game,  and  may  be  called  the  “ Paradise  of  the  lluuter.”  The 
game  found  here  is  of  such  fine  and  delicate  flavor,  that  it  is 


16 


celebrated  all  over  this  country,  and  always  finds  a ready  sale. 
It  has  become  a staple  article  of  commerce.  To  give  an  idea  ot 
the  magnitude  of  this  business,  it,  is  only  necessary  to  state 
that  in  the  winter  of  1870  and  ’71,  one  single  freight  train  left 
St  Paul  with  10.000  deer  consign' -d  to  the  large  Eastern  cities, 
the  hides  of  which  alone,  at  $2  apiece,  represent  a value  of 
$20,000. 

The  Tur  Trade  also  brings  great  wealth  to  Minnesota.  Enor- 
mous quantities  of  furs,  which  are  yearly  shipped  from  the 
British  Possessions  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  to  the  East, 
make  business  very  lively  in  St.  Paul. 


Cheapness  of  Opening  Farms. 

It  is  a fact  worthy  of  note  that  in  all  places  whose  growth  is 
unsubstantial,  the  price  of  land  is  disproportionately  high,  while 
its  products  are  low.  But  in  Minnesota  real  estate  is  low,  land  is 
extremely  cheap,  (owing  to  the  large  surplus  yet  unoccupied,) 
while  its  products  command  the  first  prices.  Wheat,  oats,  corn, 
potatoes,  and  in  fact  all  that  the  farmer  raises,  find  a ready  mar- 
ket for  cash  at  home.  A curious  illustration  of  the  practical 
working  of  this  principle  is,  that  lands  purchased  at  ten  dollars 
per  acre,  are  paid  for  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  first  crop. 
Take  this  instance  : A gentleman  having  a farm  for  sale,  offered 
it  with  improvements,  for  $9  per  acre.  Failing  to  sell,  he 
leased  it,  receiving  one-third  of  the  crop.  His  third  netted 
him  more  than  he  would  have  realized  from  the  sale  of  the 
land.  Many  such  instances  could  be  given.  This  illustrates 
what  bargains  may  be  secured  where  lands  are  cheap  and  the 
products  of  the  soil  high.  A communication  in  the  St.  Paul 
AV5S5  says  : “It  is  our  duty  to  let  people  read  and  learn  of 
Minnesota,  where  a man  can  buy  land,  break  and  fence  it,  and 
pay  for  the  land,  breaking,  fencing,  and  all  expenses,  out  of  the 
first  crop  / ” * 

A man  with  a small  high-priced  farm  in  the  old  States,  can 

* This  was  written  when  wheat  brought  S2  and  more  per  bushel,  and  was  perfectly  true 
at  that  time ; at  present  prices  of  wheat  and  other  farm  produce,  it  is  safe  to  say,  that  three 
crops  will  pay  for  land  and  all  expenses.  The  exjjerience  of  this  Company*  shows,  that 
most  contracts  for  land  made  for  ten  years, were  i)aid  up  at  the  expiration  of  five  or  six  years. 


17 


dispose  of  it  for  sufiScient  to  set  himself  up  well  in  Minnesota, 
and  procure  a farm  for  each  of  his  children  besides’,  and  these 
farms  in  a few  years  will  be  as  valuable  as  the  one  in  the  old 
States  is  now.  The  fortunes  made  by  the  farmers  here  within 
a tew  years,  would  scarcely  be  credited  in  the  older  States. 

The  Railroad  Lands  of  the  First  Division  of  the 
St.  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad  Company- 

A glance  at  the  map  of  the  State  shows  the  location  of  these 
lands  to  be  in  the  centre,  north  and  south,  and  extending  across 
the  entire  State,  east  and  west.  They  are  all  located  in  the 
VALLEYS  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  AND  THE  ReD  RiVER  OP  THE  NORTH. 
The}^  may  be  divided  into  three  different  classes,  viz. : open  tim- 
ber and  brush  lands,  heavytimber  lands,  and  prairie.  The  open 
timber  and  brush  lands  comprise  a large  portion  of  the  lands 
on  the  Branch  line  from  St.  Paul  to  Watab,  lying  within  20 
miles  of  the  Mississippi  River  on  the  East  side,  and  within  10 
miles  on  the  West  side.  These  lands  are  gently  rolling  with 
a rather  light  but  warm  sandy  loam  soil,  producing  very  rapid 
growth  and  better  adapted  to  the  culture  of  corn  than  any  other 
part  of  the  State.  This  region  is  also  unexcelled  as  a stock- 
growing country,  for  the  following  reasons,  viz.  : Here  are 
extensive  natural  meadows,  producing  heavy  crops  of  the  most 
nutritious  wild  blue  joint  and  red  top  grasses.  The  scattering 
timber  and  brush  afford  sufficient  shelter  for  stock,  as  well  as 
fuel  and  material  for  stock  sheds  and  fencing.  There  is  also  an 
excellent  home  market  for  stock  on  account  of  the  immense 
consumption  by  the  large  lumbering  regions  to  the  North  as 
well  as  convenient  facilities  for  shipping  to  other  markets  East 
and  South.  Much  of  this  land  is  also  desirable  for  the  cultiva- 
tion of  small  grains,  vegetables  and  fruit ; making  it  a desira- 
ble location  for  the  general  farmer  as  well  as  for  tjie  stock- 
grower. 

The  “heavy  timber”  is  mostly  confined  to  what  is  generally 
called  the  “ Big  Woods,”  and  embraces  the  section  of  country 
from  10  miles  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  to  a line  drawn 
through  Darwin,  and  running  south-easterly  to  the  Minnesota 
River,  and  from  Darwin  northerly  to  Crow  River;  thence  up 


18 


Crow  River  to  Green  Lake,  and  thence  north-easterly  to  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Cloud.  These  lands  are  heavily  timbered  with 
Oak,  Maple,  Linden,  Elm,  Butternut, White  and  Black  Ash,  &c. 
In  many  places  the  Oak  and  Butternut  is  of  very  fine  quality, 
and  valuable  for  many  uses,  such  as  barrel  staves^  finishing 
lumber,  furniture,  &c.  There  are  mills  scattered  here  and  there 
through  the  woods  which  provide  abundant  material  for  build- 
ing, fencing,  furniture,  &c.  Such  as  require  Pine  lumber,  can 
readily  obtain  it  at  reasonable  prices  at  all  stations  on  the  Rail-- 
road.  The  surface  of  this  region  is  generally  undulating.  The 
soil  is  a deep  black  loam  with  vegetable  deposit,  especially 
adapted  to  the  culture  of  small  grains  and  vegetables.  Corn  is 
also  grown  very  successfully  here.  Winter  wheat  of  the  very 
best  quality  yields  remarkably  well.  Flour  made  from  this 
wheat  took  the  first  premium  at  the  Minnesota  State  Fair,  and 
the  American  Institute  Fair  in  New  York  City  in  the  fall  of 

1872,  and  also  the  first  premium  at  the  Minnesota  State  Fair  in 

1873.  This  wheat  is  also  gaining,  as  it  well  deserves,  a great 
notoriety  in  the  Eastern  and  European  markets.  This  district 
embraces  portions  of  Hennepin,  Wright,  Meeker,  McLeod,  Car- 
ver and  Stearns  counties,  and  is  well  watered  by  numerous 
streams  and  beautiful  clear  water  lakes  with  sand  and  gravel 
shores,  and  abounding  in  fish  of  many  varieties. 

The  lands  designated  as  “ Prairie  ” lie  west  of  the  “ Big 
Woods”  and  extend  to  the  Red  River  of  the  North.  That 
portion  of  these  lands  from  the  “ Big  Woods  ” to  a line  running 
northerly  from  a point  near  Morris,  and  south-easterly  from  the 
same  point,  has  a gently  undulating  surface,  with  a rich,  deep, 
black  loam  soil,  varying  in  depth  from  two  to  four  feet,  and  is 
well  watered  by  small  streams  and  lakes.  There  is  some  timber 
on  most  of  the  lakes  and  the  larger  streams. 

West  of  this  tract  the  land  is  generally  level  or  nearly  level 
prairie,  with  but  little  timber  on  the  Red  and  Otter  Tail  Rivers. 
The  soil  is  very  deep  and  rich,  and  natural  meadows  are  abund- 
ant for  the  supply  of  an  immense  amount  of  stock.  Fuel, 
fencing  and  building  material  can  be  obtained  at  reasonable 
rates  at  all  stations  along  the  line,  or  can  be  shipped  from  the 
Mississippi  River  or  “Big  Woods”  by  rail. 


19 


There  is  not,  within  the  limits  of  those  grants,  any  tract  of 
considerable  extent,  unfit  for  cultivation. 

These  lands  have  been  reserved  from  sale  since  1858,  and  are 
now  offered  to  actual  settlers.  They  are  the  odd  numbered 
sections  situated  on  either  side  of  and  within  twenty  miles  of 
the  lines  of  railroad,  and  are  offered  at  low  prices  and  upon 
easy  terms,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  “Inducements  to 
Settlers.”  For  obtaining  Government  lands  under  the  Home- 
stead and  Tree-culture  Laws,  see  appendix. 


Railroad  Towns. 

The  Company  has  laid  out  a number  of  towns  on  their  own 
lands  at  railroad  stations,  wherever  it  was  practicable  to  do  so. 
Any  persons  desirous  to  settle  in  these  towns  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  on  a trade  or  opening  a mercantile  business,  can  pur- 
chase lots  of  the  Land  Commissioner  at  reasonable  rates,  and 
also  on  credit.  Lots  wanted  for  the  erection  of  flour  mills 
or  other  manufacturing  purposes,  will  be  sold  at  greatly  reduced 
prices.  Every  church  denomination  receives  one  lot  as  a free 
gift ; and  the  first  public  school  established  in  a town  receives 
at  least  one  lot  as  a donation.  Purchasers  are  not  compelled 
to  reside  on  their  lots,  nor  make  immediate  improvements  if 
they  do  not  desire  to  do  so ; lots,  therefore,  can  be  purchased 
by  non-residents  as  an  investment. 


The  Title. 

The  lands  were  granted  by  Act  of  Congress  to  the  State ; on 
the  completion  of  each  section  of  10  miles  of  the  road  the 
State,  by  deed,  conveyed  the  lands  pertaining  to  such  section 
to  the  Company.  The  lands  have  been  deeded  in  trust  by  the 
Company  to  three  trustees,  to  secure  the  construction  of  the 
road.  By  the  terms  of  the  trust  deed,  the  Company  are  at  all 
times  at  liberty  to  contract  for  the  sale  of  any  of  the  lands  at 
such  prices  as  it  deems  reasonable,  for  cash  or  credit ; when  the 
purchaser  has  paid  the  price  agreed  upon,  he  receives  a deed 
from  the  Company  and  the  trustees,  which  gives  him  an  abso- 


20 


lute  title  in  fee  simple,  and  includes  as  well  the  title  of  the 
Company  as  of  the  trustees  aforesaid. 


INDUCEMENT  TO  SETTLERS. 

The  attention  of  persons  whose  limited  means  forbid  the  pur- 
chase of  a homestead  in  the  older  States,  is  particularly  invited 
to  these  lands.  The  farms  are  sold  in  tracts  of  40  or  80  acres 
and  upwards,  at  prices  ranging  from  84.00  to  $15.00  per  acre. 
Cash  sales  are  always  One  Dollar  per  acre  less  than  Credit  sales. 
In  the  latter  case,  ten  years  are  granted  if  required. 

Example. — 80  acres  at  $8.00  per  acre,  on  long  credit — $640.00. 
A part  payment  on  the  principal  is  always  desired,  but  in  case 
the  means  of  the  settler  are  very  limited,  the  Company  allows 
him  to  pay  only  One  Year’s  interest  down,  dividing  the  princi- 
pal in  ten  equal  payments,  with  seven  per  cent,  interest  each 
year  on  the  unpaid  balance : 


Interest. 

Principal. 

Interest. 

Principal. 

1st  payment,  $44.80 

^64 

7th  payment,  $17.92 

$64 

2d  “ 

40.;>2 

64 

8th 

(( 

13.44 

64 

3d  “ 

35.84 

64 

9th 

(( 

8.96 

64 

4th  “ 

31.36 

64 

10th 

(( 

4.48 

64 

5th  ‘‘ 

26.88 

64 

11th 

(( 

64 

6 th 

22.40 

64 

The  purchaser  has  the  privilege  to  pay, up  at  any  time  within 
the  10  years,  thereby  saving  the  further  payment  of  interest. 

The  same  land  may  be  purchased  for  $560.00  cash. 

To  save  time  and  expense  to  the  purchaser,  applications  for 
Railroad  Lands  are  received  by  all  Station  Agents,  who  are  fur- 
nished with  plats  of  surrounding  countiy. 

To  encourage  farming  on  a large  scale,  this  Company  has 
introduced  a new  system  of  Land  sales,  whereby  men  of  means 
can  purchase  a section  (640  acres)  of  land  on  the  most  favora- 
ble and  easy  terms,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  and  a half, 
(the  time  for  the  whole  amount  to  be  paid  at  $6.00  per  acre,) 
have  a large,  productive  farm,  without  the  usual  annual  pay- 
ments. This  system  has  been  adopted  for  the  purpose  of  bring- 
ing under  cultivation  some  of  the  finest  prairie  country  and 
most  productive  soil  in  the  Northwest. 


21 


Terms  and  Obligations. 

That  part  of  the  Section  not  too  wet  for  tillage  must  be 
broken  the  first  year,  and  cultivated  each  subsequent  year.  The 
whole  Section  must  be  fenced  in  some  efficient  manner  before  a 
deed  will  be  given  by  the  Company.  One  person  can  take  sev- 
eral Sections,  or  four  (not  more)  persons  can  join  in  cultivating 
one  Section  or  more. 

The  cost  of  preparing  the  soil,  putting  in  and  harvesting  the 
first  crop,  according  to  the  most  reliable  information  obtained 
from  practical  farmers,  is  estimated  as  follows : 


If  done  by  Contract. 


Cost  of 

breaking  the  ground. 

$ 3 50  per'acre. 

fencing  with  boards. 

500  00  mile. 

li 

sowing,  including  seeds,  - 

2 87J-  acre. 

(( 

harvesting,  - - . 

3 00  “ ‘‘ 

(( 

threshing,  . , . 

12  “ bushel. 

(( 

hauling  to  Depot,  (if  within 

3 miles,)  2-|  “ “ 

If  done  by  the 

Farmer. 

Cost  of 

teams,  _ - . oxen,  $125  00  a yoke. 

ploughs,  (for  breaking,) 

30  00  each. 

(( 

men  per  day,  - - - 

1 00  and  board. 

a 

horses,'  . . - . 

300  00  a span. 

(( 

harness,  - - - - 

40  00  each. 

(( 

harrows,  - - - . 

18  00  “ 

(( 

seeders,  - - . . 

75  00  ‘‘ 

(C 

reapers,  McCormick’s, 

200  00  “ 

u 

threshing  machines. 

600  00  “ 

wagons,  - . - . 

90  00  “ 

a 

men  during  harvest. 

3 50  » 

These  estimates  are  based  on  wheat  productions,  but  the  pur< 

chaser  can  raise  any  crops  that  he  thinks  most  profitable. 


22 


Cost  of  boards  for  fencing,  - $18  00  per  thousand  feet. 

“ oak  posts  for  fencing,  - - 10  to  12c.  each, 

buildings,  16x24  fe^t,  about  - - $ 550  00. 

“ 18x28  feet,  1-J  story,  - 750  00. 

“ 20x30  with  kitchen,  - 1,200  00. 

These  prices  include  railroad  charges  to  the  nearest  station. 

The  lands  already  taken  under  this  plan  are  being  developed 
by  practical,  experienced  men,  each  having  at  least  $5000  cap- 
ital. Profitable  results  cannot  fail  to  be  realized  by  them.  To 
mere  theorists  who  wish  to  experiment  only,  the  Company 
offers  no  inducements. 

At  the  Railroad  Stations,  which  are  located  on  the  large 
prairie,  the  Company  has  established  wood  yards,  which  are 
stocked  with  maple  and  other  good  hard  woods,  and  sold  at  cost 
price,  which,  it  is  calculated,  will  not  be  more  than  $5  or  $6  per 
cord. 

Any  other  information,  including  location  of  Government 
lands,  will  be  furnished  on  application  in  person,  or  by  letter,  in 
English,  French,  German,  Dutch  or  Scandinavian,  addressed  to 

LAND  COMMISSIONER, 

First  Division  8t.  Paul  dv  Pacific  P.  P.  Oo.^ 

Saint  Paul,  Minn. 

Office  on  the  Levee,  near  the  R.  R.  Depot. 


APPENDIX. 


How  and  Where  the  Cheapest  Lands  can  he 

Secnred. 

The  cheapest  land  can  be  obtained  from  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  for  it  gives  its  land  away  for  nothing — but 
only  to  actual  settlers^ 

First,  under  the  Homestead  Law. 

Every  American  citizen,  and  also  every  foreigner  who  has 
declared  his  intention  to  become  an  American  citizen,  has  a 
homestead  right  to  160  acres  of  land  ; but  if  he  selects  his  land 
within  10  miles  of  a railroad,  he  gets  only  eighty  acres,  for  it  is 
presumed  that  eighty  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  a railroad  are  as 
valuable  as  160  acres  away  from  railroads.  Soldiers,  however, 
who  served  in  the  late  war,  are  allowed  to  take  160  acres  for  a 
homestead  within  or  without  railroad  limits. 

In  order  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  this  law,  it  is  necessary  not 
only  to  cultivate  the  land  but  also  to  live  on  it,  so  that  it  be- 
comes in  reality  the  settler’s  home.  Not  until  after  five  years 
of  such  occupation  can  the  title  to  the  same  be  procured. 


Second,  under  the  Tree-Planting  Law. 

This  last  named  law  can  be  applied  only  to  prairie  lands,  as 
the  object  of  it  is  to  promote  tree  planting  on  the  prairie. 
Every  one  who  plants  10  acres  with  trees,  and  keeps  the  same 
in  good  cultivation  for  10  years,  receives  title  to  160  acres  of 
land,  the  40  acres  of  timbered  plantation  included,  which  latter 
is  thus  made  for  his  own  benefit. 

Practically  this  matter  can  be  carried  out  in  the  following 
manner:  An  intending  settler  selects  240  acres  of  land  in  the 


24 


vicinity  of  a railroad  station ; he  then  enters  at  the  nearest 
United  States  Land  Office,  80  acres  under  the  homestead  law, 
and  160  acres  under  the  tree-planting  law.  He  must  build  his 
house  on  the  80  acres,  live  there  and  cultivate  the  laud.  He 
must  also  at  once  break  40  acres  of  his  timbered  claim,  which 
must  be  planted  with  trees  within  the  first  three  years  after 
filing.  During  a period  of  10  years  this  timber  must  be  well 
taken  care  of  and  cultivated,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  has 
to  prove  that  he  has  fulfilled  the  requirements  of  the  law,  and 
then  receives  his  title  to  the  whole  quarter- section.  The  re- 
maining 120  acres  he  can  use  in  the  meantime  as  farming  land, 
and  has  thus  200  acres  for  farming  purposes,  and  40  acres  young 
timber,  the  whole  at  the  expiration  of  10  years  certainly  worth 
not  less  than  $6,000. 

The  State  of  Minnesota,  not  to  remain  behind  the  United 
States  in  this  respect,  has  also  enacted  a law  to  encourage  tim- 
ber planting  on  its  prairies.  According  to  this  law  the  State 
pays  during  a time  of  ten  years,  $2  each  year  for  every  acre 
planted  with  trees,  this  payment  to  conjmence  the  third  year 
after  the  plantation  is  made,  thus  paying  for  40  acres  $80  each 
year,  for  ten  years  $800. 

For  planting  trees  along  public  roads  and  highways,  the  State 
also  pays  $2  for  every  half  mile  ; the  trees  not  to  be  planted 
more  than  one  rod  apart ; and  if  trees  are  planted  on  both  sides 
of  such  roads  or  highways,  twice  the  amount,  or  $4  for  every 
half  mile,  in  every  instance  during  a period  of  ten  years:  pro- 
vided such  trees  in  the  meantime  are  well  taken  care  of  and 
kept  in  a healthy  growing  condition. 

As  large  tracts  of  prairie  land  of  the  best  quality  are  yet  to 
be  had  along  the  Main  Line  of  the  First  Division  of  the  Saint 
Paul  & Pacific  Railroad,  and  within  sight  of  depots,  and  close 
to  towns,  particular  attention  is  called  to  this  region. 

Besides  the  above  mentioned,  there  are  several  other  ways 
for  acquiring  land.  Under  the  old  pre-emption  law,  which  is 
yet  in  force,  160  acres  of  land  can  be  taken  possession  of,  for 
which  payment  can  be  made  within  one  year.  The  price  is 
$2.50  per  acre  within  10  miles  of  a railroad,  and  beyond  that 
$1.25  per  acre. 


State  and  National  Legislation  in  aid  of  Forest 
Tree  Planting. 

Recognizing  the  importance  of  forest  tree  culture,  the  Legis- 
lature of  the  State  of  Minnesota  enacted  a law,  approved  March 
6th,  1871,  entiled  “An  act  to  encourage  the  planting  and  grow- 
ing of  timber  and  shade  trees.” 


25 


Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Minnesota : 

Section  1.  Every  person  planting  one  acre  or  more  of  prai- 
rie land  within  five  years  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  with  any 
kind  of  forest  trees,  except  black  locust,  and  successfully  grow- 
ing and  cultivating  the  same  for  three  years ; and  every  person 
planting,  protecting,  and  cultivating,  for  three  years,  one  half 
mile  or  more  of  forest  trees  along  any  public  highway,  said  trees 
to  be  planted  so  as  to  stand  at  the  end  of  three  years  not  more 
than  one  rod  apart,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  for  ten  years, 
commencing  three  years  after  said  grove  or  line  of  trees  has 
been  planted,  an  annual  bounty  of  two  dollars  per  acre  for  each 
acre  so  planted,  and  two  dollars  fcr  each  one-half  mile  so  plant- 
ed, to  be  paid  out  of  the  county  treasury  of  the  county  in  which 
said  grove  or  line  of  trees  may  be  situated  ; such  bounty  shall 
not  be  paid  any  longer  than  said  grove  or  line  of  trees  is  culti- 
vated and  kept  alive,  and  in  a growing  condition. 

Sec.  2.  Any  person  wishing  to  avail  himself  of  the  provi- 
sions of  section  1 of  this  act,  shall  within  three  years  after 
planting  said  grove,  or  line  of  trees,  file  with  the  county  auditor 
of  the  county,  a correct  plat  of  said  grove,  or  line  of  trees,  show- 
ing on  what  section  or  other  piece  of  land  said  grove  or  line  of 
trees  is  situated,  attested  by  his  own  oath,  and  the  affidavit  of 
at  least  two  householders  of  the  vicinity,  setting  forth  all  the 
facts  in  relation  to  the  growth  and  cultivation  of  said  grove  or 
line  of  trees.  The  county  auditor  shall  lay  such  plat  and  affi- 
davit before  the  county  commissioners,  and  if  they  find  from  the 
evidence,  that  section  1 of  this  act  has  been  fully  complied  with, 
shall  cause  warrants  to  be  issued  from  the  county  treasury  of 
the  proper  county  for  the  bounty  above  provided  for. 

Sec.  3.  The  affidavit  of  the  claimant,  and  at  least  two 
householders  of  the  vicinity,  showing  the  growth  and  condition 
of  such  trees,  shall  be  filed  each  year  in  the  office  of  the  county 
auditor  before  the  county  commissioners  shall  authorize  war- 
rants to  be  drawn  on  the  county  treasurer  for  the  bounty  of 
that  year. 

Sec.  4.  This  act  to  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and 
after  its  passage. 


Act  of  1873. 

Two  years  experience  demonstrated  the  necessity  of  more 
liberal  legislation  in  this  behalf,  and  the  following  act  was 
passed  and  approved  February  20th,  1873. 

Be  it  enacted  hy  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Minnesota: 
Section  1.  That  every  person  planting  one  acre  or  more  of 


26 


prairie  land,  within  five  years  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  with 
any  kind  of  forest  trees,  except  black  locust,  and  successfully 
growing  and  cultivating  the  same  for  three  years ; and  every 
person  planting,  protecting,  and  cultivating,  for  three  years, 
one-half  mile  or  more  of  forest  trees,  along  any  public  highway, 
said  trees  to  be  planted  so  as  to  stand  not  more  than  one  rod 
apart  at  the  end  of  three  years,  and  when  planted  on  each  side 
of  any  highway,  such  trees  shall  not  be  planted  within  the  four 
rod  limit  of  such  highway,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  for  ten 
years  thereafter,  an  annual  bounty  of  two  dollars  for  each  acre, 
and  two  dollars  for  each  half  mile  so  planted  and  cultivated,  to 
be  paid  out  of  the  State  treasury ; but  such  bounty  shall  not  be 
paid  any  longer  than  such  grove  or  line  of  trees  is  maintained 
and  kept  in  growing  condition. 

Sec.  2.  Any  person  wishing  to  secure  the  benefit  of  this  act, 
shall  within  three  years  after  planting  such  grove,  or  line  of 
trees,  and  annually  thereafter,  file  with  the  county  auditor  in 
which  the  same  is  located,  a correct  plat  of  the  land,  describing 
the  section  or  fraction  thereof  on  which  such  grove  or  line  of 
trees  has  been  planted  and  cultivated,  and  shall  make  due  proof 
of  such  planting  and  cultivation,  as  well  as  of  the  title  to  the 
land,  by  the  oath  of  the  owner  and  the  affidavit  of  two  house- 
holders residing  in  the  vicinity,  setting  forth  the  facts  in  rela- 
tion to  the  growth  and  cultivation  of  the  grove,  or  line  of  trees, 
for  which  such  bounty  is  demanded.  The  several  county  audit- 
ors shall  annually,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  August,  forward 
to  the  State  auditor  a certified  list  of  all  the  lands  and  tree 
planting  reported  and  verified  to  them  in  compliance  with  this 
act,  with  the  names  and  post  office  address  of  the  respective 
owners  thereof;  providing  this  act  shall  not  apply  to  any  rail- 
road company  for  planting  of  trees  within  two  hundred  feet  of 
its  track  for  the  purpose  of  snow  fence. 

Sec.  3.  If  the  State  auditor  shall  find  that  the  provisions  of 
this  act  have  been  duly  complied  with,  he  shall  issue  to  the  sev- 
eral applicants  entitled  thereto,  his  warrant  upon  the  State 
treasurer  for  the  bounty  named  in  the  first  section,  on  or  before 
the  first.  Monday  of  October  in  each  year.  Provided,  That  if  the 
aggregate  ot  the  bounty  so  applied  for  shall,  in  any  one  year,  ex- 
ceed twenty  thousand  dollars,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  State 
auditor,  on  the  first  Monday  of  October  in  such  year,  to  equi- 
tably distribute  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  no  greater  sum, 
among  the  claimants  who  may  be  entitled  to  the  aforesaid 
bount}",  and  his  warrants  for  such  pro  rata  shall  relieve  the 
State  from  further  claims  for  such  year. 

Sec.  4.  This  act  shall  take  elfect  and  be  in  force  from  and 
after  its  passage. 


27 


Congressional  Tree  Planting  Act  of  March.,  ’74. 

An  Act  to  amend  the  act  entitled  : “An  Act  to  Encourage  the 
Growth  of  Timber  on  Western  Prairies,”  approved  March  3, 
1873,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as  fol- 
lows : That  any  person  who  is  the  head  of  a family,  or  who  has 
arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  who  is  a citizen  of 
the  United  States,  or  who  shall  have  filed  his  declaration  and 
intention  to  become  such,  as  required  by  the  naturalization  laws 
of  the  United  States,  who  shall  plant,  protect,  and  keep  in  a 
healthy  condition  for  eight  years,  forty  acres  of  timber,  the 
trees  thereon  being  not  more  than  twelve  feet  apart  each  way, 
on  any  quarter  section  of  any  of  the  public  lands  of  the  United 
States,  or  twenty  acres  on  any  legal  subdivision  of  eighty  acres, 
or  ten  acres  on  any  legal  subdivision  of  forty  acres,  or  one- 
fourth  part  of  any  fractional  subdivision  of  land  less  than  forty 
acres,  shall  be  entitled  to  a patent  for  the  ^vhole  of  said  quar- 
ter-section, 01  of  such  legal  subdivision  of  eighty  or  forty  acres, 
or  fractional  subdivision  of  less  than  forty  acres,  as  the  case  may 
be,  at  the  expiration  of  said  eight  years,  on  making  proof  of  such 
fact  by  not  less  than  two  credible  witnesses  ; Provided^  that  not 
more  than  one-quarter  of  any  section  shall  be  thus  granted ; 
and  that  no  person  shall  make  more  than  one  entry  under  the 
provision  of  this  act,  unless  fractional  subdivisions  of  less  than 
forty  acres  are  entered,  which,  in  the  aggregate,  shall  not  ex- 
ceed one-quarter  section. 

Sec.  2.  That  the  person  applying  for  the  benefit  of  this  act 
shall,  upon  application  to  the  Register  of  the  Land  District  in 
which  he  or  she  is  about  to  make  such  entry,  make  affidavit  be- 
fore the  Register  or  the  Receiver,  or  some  ofticer  authorized  to 
administer  oaths  in  the  district  where  the  land  is  situated,  who 
is  required  by  law  to  use  an  official  seal,  that  such  entry  is  made 
for  the  cultivation  of  timber ; and  upon  filing  said  affidavit 
with  said  Register  and  said  Receiver,  and  the  payment  of  $10, 
he  or  she  shall  thereupon  be  permitted  to  enter  the  quantity  of 
land  specified ; and  the  party  making  an  entr}’  of  a quarter  sec- 
tion under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  be  required  to  break 
ten  acres  of  the  land  covered  thereby  the  first  year,  ten  acres 
the  second  year,  and  twenty  acres  the  third  year,  after  the  date 
of  entry.  A party  making  an  entry  of  eighty  acres  shall  break 
and  plant,  at  the  times  hereinbefore  prescribed,  one  quarter  of 
the  quantity  required  by  a party  who  enters  a quarter  section, 
or  a proportionate  quantity  of  any  smaller  fractional  subdi- 
vision ; Provided^  hovjever^  That  no  final  certificate  shall  be 
given  or  patent  issued  for  the  land  so  entered  until  the  expira- 
tion of  eight  years  from  the  date  of  such  entry;  and  if,  at  the 


28 


expiration  of  such  time,  or  at  any  time  within  five  years  there- 
after, the  person  making  such  entry,  or,  if  he  or  she  be  dead, 
his  or  her  heirs  or  legal  representatives,  shall  prove  by  two 
credible  witnesses  that'  he  or  she  or  they  have  planted,  and,  for 
not  less  than  eight  years,  have  cultivated  and  protected  such 
quantity  and  character  of  timber  as  aforesaid,  they  shall  receive 
a patent  for  such  quarter  section  or  legal  subdivision  of  eighty 
or  forty  acres  ot  land,  or  for  any  frac,tional  quantity  of  less  than 
forty  acres,  as  herein  provided.  And  in  case  of  the  death  of  a 
person  who  has  complied  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  for  the 
period  of  three  years,  his  heirs  or  legal  representatives  shall 
have  the  option  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and 
receive,  at  the  expiration  of  eight  years,  a patent  for  160  acres, 
or  receive  without  delay  a patent  for  forty  acres,  relinquishing 
all  claim  to  the  remainder. 

That  if,  at  any  time  after  the  filing  of  said  affidavit,  and  prior 
to  the  issuing  of  the  patent  for  said  land,  the  claimant  shall 
abandon  the  land,  or  fail  to  do  the  breaking  and  planting  re- 
quired by  this  act,  or  any  part  thereof,  or  shall  fail  to  cultivate, 
protect  and  keep  in  good  condition  such  timber,  then,  and  in  that 
event,  such  land  shall  be  subject  to  entry  under  the  homestead 
laws,  or  by  some  other  person  under  the  provisions  of  this  act ; 
Provided^  That  the  party  making  claim  to  said  land,  either  as 
homestead  settler  or  under  this  act,  shall  give,  at  the  time  of  fil- 
ing his  application,  such  notice  to  the  original  claimant  assliall  be 
prescribed  by  the  rules  established  by  the  Commissioner  of  the 
General  Land  Office,  and  the  rights  of  the  parties  .shall  be  de- 
termined as  in  other  contested  cases. 

Sec.  4.  That  each  and  every  person  who,  under  the  provis- 
ions of  the  act  entitled,  “An  act  to  procure  homesteads  to  actual 
settlers  on  the  public  domain,”  approved  May  20th,  1862,  or 
any  amendment  thereto,  having  a homestead  on  said  public  do- 
main, who,  at  any  time  after  the  end  of  the  thirO  year  of  his 
or  her  residence  thereon,  shall,  in  addition  to  the  settlement  and 
improvements  now  required  by  law,  have  had  under  cultivation, 
. for  two  years,  one  acre  of  timber,  the  trees  thereon  not  being 
. more  than  twelve  feet  apart  each  way,  and  in  a good  thrifty 
condition,  for  each  and  every  sixteen  acres  of  said  homestead, 
shall,  upon  due  proof  of  said  fact  by  two  .credible  witnesses, 
receive  his  or  her  patent  for  said  homestead. 

Sec.  5.  That  no  land  acquired  under  the  provisions  of  this 
act,  shall  in  any  event  become  liable  to  the  satisfaction  of  any 
debt  or  debts  contracted  prior  to  the  issuing  of  certificate 
therefor. 

Sec.  6.  That  the  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office 
is  hereby  required  to  prepare  and  issue  such  rules  and  regula- 


29 


tions  consistent  with  this  act,  as  shall  be  necessary  and  proper 
to  carry  its  provisions  into  effect ; and  that  the  Registers  and 
the  Receivers  of  the  several  land  offices  each  be  entitled  to  re- 
ceive two  dollars  at  the  time  of  entry,  and  the  same  sum  when 
the  same  is  finally  established  and  the  final  certificate  issued. 

Sec.  7.  That  the  fifth  section  of  the  act  entitled  ‘‘An  act  in 
addition  to  an  act  to  punish  crimes  against  the  United  States, 
and  for  other  purposes,”  approved  March  3,  1857,  shall  extend 
to  all  oaths,  affirmations,  and  affidavits  required  or  authorized 
by  this  act. 

Sec.  8.  That  parties  who  have  already  made  entries  under 
the  act  approved  March  3,  1873,  of  which  this  act  is  amenda- 
tory, shall  be  permitted  to  complete  the  same  under  full  compli- 
ance with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 


^CO.SC’jllGS 


The  person  charging  this  material  is  re- 
sponsible for  its  return  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below. 

Theft,  mutilation,  and  underlining  of  books 
are  reasons  for  disciplinary  action  and  may 
result  in  dismissal  from  the  University. 


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